School bans children from dressing up for Halloween over fears it’s not ‘inclusive’

A primary school has reportedly banned children from dressing up for a Halloween party over fears it is not “inclusive.”

Members of the parent council at St David’s RC Primary, in Edinburgh, reportedly took issue with the event because “not all families celebrate Halloween.”

The Catholic school shares a campus with the non-denominational Pirniehall Primary School, where children are allowed to dress up for the occasion.

Last year there was an issue with the celebration when parents were allegedly advised the night before Halloween not to send their children to school in costume.

But this year, parents who asked in advance about the Halloween plans were reportedly given the same response.

As an alternative to the Halloween celebrations, the parent council has organised an 'Autumn Dance'.

READ MORE: Should parents take their kids trick or treating at Halloween?

But some parents aren’t happy about the decision.

“Last year it was so lovely to see the other kids from Pirniehall having fun and ours weren’t allowed to because we were told the decision had been made by the parent council to not let the kids dress up because ‘some families don’t celebrate Halloween,” one parent told the Edinburgh Evening News.

“I felt so sad for the kids.

“No religion or politics should interfere with children. It feels like back to the dark century where children have no voice and parents can decide everything they do for them.”

READ MORE: How scary is too scary for children at Halloween?

Yahoo UK has contacted the school for comment but an email disclosed to the Evening News from the Chair of St Davids RC Parents Council said: “It was felt that any event organised for Halloween would not be inclusive of all children at the school.

“The costs involved for parents would put strain on family budgets.

“Sadly, the issue of Halloween has become quite contentious and this also played a part in our decision.

“As a parent council we should always look to be neutral and non-controversial.”

A council spokesperson has defended the position and said: “Parents councils take account of different views when making decisions about after school activities in order to meet the needs of as many families as possible.”

Halloween can often be a divisive celebration, particularly in terms of the costumes. Over the last couple of years some people have objected to the sexing up of well-known characters for the spooky season, including First Lady Melania Trump and 12-year-old ‘Stranger Things’ character, Eleven.

While others have objected to cultural appropriation costume nightmares.